Opioid Addiction – Why Are People Addicted?
Getting addicted to opioids can happen to almost anyone for many reasons. While some feel the opioid addiction may be genetic, there are other reasons why people get addicted and stay addicted. The most common reasons people get addicted to opioids are:
- Pain Relief
Opioids can be very effective at relieving pain and are used most often to treat chronic pain and/or pain as a result of injury or to relieve pain post-surgery. - Euphoria
Opioids can produce a strong feeling of euphoria which most people find feels very pleasurable. This euphoria can lead people to continue using opioids long after they no longer need them for temporary pain relief. - Addiction
Opioids are highly addictive. People can quickly develop a dependence on opioids which can lead them into addiction. Add the pleasurable feeling of euphoria on-top of pain relief and it’s easy to see why many people have trouble stopping from taking opioids. - Availability
Think about it – When you were in high school there was most likely a lot of marijuana available. As a result of marijuana’s fairly easy availability, a lot of people smoke it, vape it or eat edible marijuana. The legalization of marijuana in certain states also makes it very readily available to those living in or near those states. Thus, there’s a high probability that more people use it. Opioids’ availability is similar to marijuana since they are available in most cities both legally and illegally as prescription drugs and can be purchased on the street. This simply makes it more likely that people will start using them and are likely to become addicted to them.
How Come Some People Don’t Get Addicted to Opioids?
Not everyone who uses an opioid will become addicted to it. Some people can take opioids post-surgery for example, without becoming addicted. It almost doesn’t seem fair to those of us who have become addicted. People less susceptible to opioid addiction are often the ones who won’t finish a whole glass of wine or mixed drink. They simply don’t have the desires or impulses others do, and are less likely to become addicted to type of chemical.
Some Additional Risk Factors for Opioid Addiction
- Genetics
Some people are more genetically predisposed to opioid addiction than others are. Like the person above who won’t leave an unfinished alcoholic drink on the table, some people just have more impulsive behavior than others when it comes to inducing chemicals. - History of substance abuse
People who have a history of abusing other things (sex, alcohol, relationships, money, success, etc) are more likely to become addicted to opioids. - Mental health
People with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or ADHD are more likely to become addicted to opioids because they often seek relief from emotional pain or personal circumstances. - Trauma
In general, people who have experienced childhood trauma such as physical abuse, mental abuse or even sexual abuse are more likely to become addicted to opioids.
Avoiding the Risks of Opioid Addiction
Be sure to take opioids only as prescribed by your doctor. Never inject, snort or swallow any pills that do not belong to you. Fentanyl-lacing has become an epidemic all on its own recently and is causing overdoses and fatalities in numbers not seen before. Do not take more opioids than you are prescribed. If you feel the urge to take more than prescribed, contact your physician and explain why you feel this desire. There are instances where opioids can fool the brain into thinking pain from perhaps a surgery is more prominent than it really is. The brain can do very strange things once addicted to opioids that most people think they would never do.
Don’t take opioids longer than you’re supposed to. It sounds so very simple, but if taking opioids like OxyContin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, Percocet, Opana or other pain pills for pain relief, make sure you stop taking them when you were told to by your prescribing physician.
Never share your pain medications with others. Not only is it illegal to share prescription pain medications, it could also be the one or two pills that leads to that person getting addicted – Something no one wants to be responsible for.
Properly dispose of all unused opioids. Opioids may be taken to your local pharmacy, as well as some police stations where they can disposed of properly without someone else finding them. Never flush opioids down the toilet or put them into the trash. Always take unused opioids to a local pharmacy for safe disposal.
The DEA.gov website is a treasure trove for information about opioid addiction and the current issues with fentanyl-lacing of “fake pills”. Be sure to check out the DEA website for the latest on the opioid epidemic.
If you’re reading this article then you most likely fall into one of two possible camps:
- You’re inquiring for a friend or family member whom you think may be addicted to opioids.
- You are concerned about your personal addiction to opioids.
The Paths to Overcoming Opioid Addiction
Overcoming opioid addiction can be done in multiple ways, each of which has its own caveats. Here are the most common ways to overcome opioid addiction while keeping in mind not everyone is the same, and some people will move from active addiction to being in recovery for most or all of their lives. Regardless of the path you choose remember you are not alone. Millions of people in the United States alone are addicted to opioids. Many of those who have sought a solution are living a very normal, drug-free lifestyle at this very moment thanks to the many advancements addiction recovery has benefitted from in just the past few years.
- Inpatient treatment – You’ll pack a suitcase and spend weeks or even months in a closed environment. While there, you’ll typically spend your days and evenings learning about the diseases of addiction, how it effects your life and the lives of those around you, learn about the amends process, and develop a plan for when you return to your old environment.
Pros: You’re in a bubble surrounded by other people in the same boat as you, learning about addiction from highly-trained people who will help you understand your addiction and how to live with it.
Cons: You’re in a bubble. Life is typically pretty good in inpatient treatment since it’s almost impossible to go back to your old habits. However, retuning to your old environment can be difficult for most people. “One and done” is not enough for many people. Relapse rates are very high with inpatient treatment due to people returning to their old environment, and old habits. This makes it difficult to maintain sobriety without a solid maintenance program in place. Make sure you have a recovery plan of action well before you leave treatment to avoid repeated relapse. - Outpatient treatment – You’ll most likely begin with weekly visits that last for an hour or two. You’ll do a urine drug screen, visit with a counselor and also a physician. Group counseling may also be provided. Weekly visits will turn into biweekly visits pending your progress. Biweekly visits turn into monthly visits when you’ve established a solid foundation by staying clean and attending all scheduled appointments. Suboxone medication will most likely be used to transition you from your opioid of choice, and then continued Suboxone will be used as a maintenance tool. Suboxone brings substantial relief from withdrawals while also curbing your desires to use opioids.
Eventually, some people choose to taper off of Suboxone. Others prefer the security it offers much like an insurance policy. Suboxone curbs their cravings, eliminates withdrawal symptoms and helps them feel normal again having reestablished their families, careers, and homestead.
Pros: Allows for a very quick transition from powerful opioids to Suboxone without suffering possible weeks of painful withdrawals. Provides a sense of calmness and feeling of wellbeing to many. Allows for fully-functional living in your old/home environment with far less temptation to return to old habits – both physically and mentally. Literally prevents relapse due to Suboxone’s blocking agent (Naloxone). Weekly contact with professionals who can help maintain sobriety while living your normal life. Ongoing counseling is provided, which is critical to longterm sobriety. Fairly inexpensive without insurance. Insurance accepted at many clinics.
Cons: Initial weekly visits can seem unnecessary at first, but many state and federal laws require them. The clinic you choose determines the quality of your care. Be picky. Interview at least three clinics before scheduling an appointment. There are some bad actors in the Suboxone space. Look for affiliations and accreditations like BeSMART and TennCare insurance accepted to be sure you’re dealing with a quality facility.
If you live in Tennessee and have TennCare Insurance:
Recovery Care facilities are Tennessee state licensed BeSMART addiction treatment providers who accept TennCare insurance including AmeriGroup, BlueCare and United Healthcare (Medicaid plans). Patients are treated with kindness and respect while receiving optimal addiction treatment under the TennCare BeSMART accreditation.
Recovery Care is based in Columbia, TN, but serves all of Tennessee through its online TennCare Suboxone program. Telemedicine Suboxone treatment is available to anyone who lives in the state of Tennessee, with or without health insurance.
Start your Suboxone treatment today by clicking one of the links below:
- Schedule Suboxone Treatment with TennCare Insurance
- Schedule Suboxone Treatment with Commercial Insurance
- Schedule Suboxone Treatment and Pay Out of Pocket